Rudbeckia plant named &#39;ET RDB 404&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Rudbeckia  plant named ‘ET RDB 404’, characterized by its compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit; single-type inflorescences with quilled yellow and dark reddish brown-colored ray florets positioned above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rudbeckia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET RDB 404’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rudbeckia plant, botanically known as Rudbeckia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ET RDB 404’.

The new Rudbeckia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Rudbeckia plants with small leaves and attractive long-lasting inflorescences supported by strong peduncles.

The new Rudbeckia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands in 2011 of a proprietary selection of Rudbeckia hirta×Echinacea purpurea identified as code number 18-6AZU, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Rudbeckia hirta identified as code number 68-A3 68, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Rudbeckia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands in 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rudbeckia by tissue culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands since 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Rudbeckia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rudbeckia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ET RDB 404’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ET RDB 404’ as a new and distinct Rudbeckia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Relatively small leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type inflorescences with quilled yellow and dark         reddish brown-colored ray florets positioned above the foliar         plane on strong peduncles.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are more compact and denser than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Rudbeckia are longer         lasting than inflorescences of plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are more compact and denser than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Rudbeckia are longer         lasting than inflorescences of plants of the male parent         selection.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia can be compared to Rudbeckia hirta×Echinacea purpurea ‘ET-RDB 03’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,206. Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ primarily from plants of ‘ET-RDB 03’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are taller than plants of ‘ET-RDB         03’.     -   2. Plants of the new Rudbeckia have stronger stems than plants         of ‘ET-RDB 03’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Rudbeckia have quilled         ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘ET-RDB 03’ have         elliptic-shaped ray florets.

Plants of the new Rudbeckia can be compared to Rudbeckia hirta×Echinacea purpurea ‘ET-RDB 01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,221. Plants of the new Rudbeckia differ primarily from plants of ‘ET-RDB 01’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rudbeckia are shorter than plants of         ‘ET-RDB 01’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Rudbeckia have quilled         ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘ET-RDB 01’ have         elliptic-shaped ray florets.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Rudbeckia have more ray         florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘ET-RDB 01’.     -   4. Plants of the new Rudbeckia and ‘ET-RDB 01’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘ET-RDB 01’ have yellow, orange and         red-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rudbeckia showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rudbeckia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET RDB 404’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘ET RDB 404’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 2.5-liter containers during the spring in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural conditions typical of commercial Rudbeckia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 16° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hybrida ‘ET RDB 404’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Rudbeckia             hirta×Echinacea purpurea identified as code number 18-6AZU,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Rudbeckia             hirta identified as code number 68-A3 68, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to eight days at soil             temperatures about 15° C. and ambient temperatures about 20°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plants.—About four weeks at             soil temperatures about 15° C. and ambient temperatures             about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; color, close             to 162C.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit;             strong and freely branching growth habit with numerous             lateral branches, dense and bushy appearance; vigorous             growth habit; medium growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 45 cm to 50 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches (peduncles).—Length: About 8 cm to 25 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm             to 3 cm. Angle: Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent, rough. Color: Close to             144A; spots, close to 200A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 10 cm to 20 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm to 9 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to obovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate to acute.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 145B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 138B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type and arrangement.—Single-type inflorescence form with             quilled-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne on terminal and axillary peduncles             above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; ray             and disc florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten weeks             after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from mid-July until the end of October in The             Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Good postproduction longevity with             inflorescences lasting about eight to ten weeks on the             plant; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit,             typically more than 40 inflorescences developing per plant             during the flowering season.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Round. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Inflorescences.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 12 cm. Depth             (height): About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm             to 3 cm. Receptacle height: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Receptacle             diameter: About 7 mm to 12 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About             20 to 26 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 cm to             4.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Quilled. Apex:             Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire at apex. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Rough, pubescent. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 153A; towards the base,             close to 153D; at the apex, tinged with close to 187A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 153A; towards the base,             close to 153C; at the apex, tinged with close to 187A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 12A; longitudinal streaks,             close to between 187A and 200A; color becoming closer to             between 187A and 200A with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 153A to 153D overlain with close to             between 187A and 200A.         -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Numerous disc florets massed at             center of receptacle. Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Width:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Obtuse.             Color: Apex: Close to between 200A and 187A. Mid-section:             Close to between 200B and 187B. Base: Close to between 200A             and 187A.         -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 20             to 30 in about three whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.             Width: About 3 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Rough, pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to             143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: Numerous. Filament length:             About 1 mm to 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 200B. Anther             shape: Round. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther             color: Close to 200B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 12A. Gynoecium (present only on disc florets):             Pistil length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted.             Stigma color: Close to 200C. Style length: About 1 mm to             2 mm. Style color: Close to 200C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Rudbeckia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been     observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew (Oidium sp. or     Sphaerotheca fuliginea). Resistance to pests and other pathogens     common to Rudbeckia plants has not been observed on plants of the     new Rudbeckia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Rudbeckia have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures from about −20° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rudbeckia plant named ‘ET RDB 404’ as illustrated and described. 